The government is committed to the founding principle of the NHS, that treatment is free at the point of delivery and available according to clinical need rather than ability to pay. However, independent, voluntary and private organisations have always been part of NHS services. For example, most GPs are private contractors, and the medicines the NHS buys are manufactured by private companies. What people say matters to them most is the quality of care they receive and that they receive it free when they need it.

The government believes that competition between providers will be a means, not an end, to empower patients and staff, to drive up responsiveness, outcomes and efficiency, and provide the best value for money for taxpayers. More ….